Ted Rust: 1910-2010

Ted Rust, director of Memphis Academy of Art from 1949 to 1975, and world renowned sculptor has died. He was 99. Rust seen here in 2005 with "Jonah", a plaster model for pewter cast in Dallas residence, 1947. "I never could go totally abstract. I like telling a story too much, " said Rust.

Three leaders in the Memphis observance of American Art Week, to be marked by an exhibit of Memphis paintings at the Peabody in November, 1951 are (Left to Right) Edwin C. " Ted" Rust, director of the Memphis Academy of Arts, Mrs. Carl C. Heyer, Art Week chairman and Mrs. W.J.E. Webber, co-chairman. A suitable setting for their conversation is Mr. Rust's studio, where he works on a sculpture during the discussion October 24, 1951. (Charles Nicholas/ The Commercial Appeal files)

Ted Rust at work in his backyard in 1966. Rust attended Deep Springs, a small experimental liberal arts college in Death Valley, and then, in 1932, went to Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y., intending to be an architect. One of the required courses was modeling, "and that was it, " said Rust, "I was hooked. Also, I was lousy at math. Anyway, I was never a carver, like Michelangelo. I'm a modeler. Maybe that makes me not a real sculptor." Rust served as a field director for the Red Cross during World War II, becoming national director of the Arts and Skills Corps. After the war, he went to New York "to see if I could live as an artist, " but three years in a third-floor walk-up in Brooklyn - he calls the place a garret - were too much.

Former Memphis College of Art director Ted Rust, 90, greets Mimi Dan, left, with Mimi Loeb at the unveiling of a sculpture he made titled Ikon November 17, 2001. The sculpture was unveiled as part of the centennial celebration of Overton Park. The 10-foot-tall, 2,400-pound bronze sculpture was unveiled in a ceremony attended by about 150 people.

Onlookers view the sculpture Ikon by former Memphis College of Art director Ted Rust after it was unveiled as part of the centennial celebration of Overton Park. Rust said he named the piece Ikon because it's a symbol of his love for Memphis, the park and the college - "everything that has meant the most to me in the last half of my life."

Ted Rust poses with some of his sculptures January 13, 2005 at the Memphis College of Art where an exhibition of his work is shown. Rust moved from New York in 1949 to become director of what was then called Memphis Academy of Art. He thought Memphis would be "a stopping-off place, but I grew to love it. It's a wonderful city."

Ted Rust, photographed in 2005, peering through one of his works "Utah", plaster , 1998.

Ted Rust, photographed at work in his studio in 2007, would have been 100 years old December 5th.

Memphis College of Art had it's 2009 commencement ceremonies May 9, 2009 at the Levitt Shell in Overton Park. Seen here from left, Professor Emeritus Murray Riss, Director Emeritus Ted Rust, and Professor Emeritus Dolph Smith after the ceremonies Saturday.

A major player in the Memphis art scene, the main building at MCA is named Rust Hall in his honer. Before 1959, the Memphis Academy of Art, founded in 1925, occupied the old Goyer-Lee House in Victorian Village. Having outgrown that venerable home, the school looked for a new space, and under Ted Rust's leadership developed the program for a new building in Overton Park. Rust is seen here in his home in 2008.

Ted Rust, whose gentle smiles touched the lives of many, will be missed. Rust seen here in his home in 2007.